Electric furnace



March 29 1 A. D. KEENE ELECTRIC FURNACE Filed April 24, 1925 INVENTOR A/vin 0. Keene WITNESSES:

ATTOR N EY Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVIN I). KEENE. OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY. A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

Application filed April 24', 1925.

with the supporting members for holding them in said wall.

In the single sheet of drawings,

Figure 1 is aview, in longitudinal section, of an electric furnace comprising the device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, in lateral section, illustrating the device embodying my invention,

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of an interlocking member, and

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of a resistorsupporting member.

An electric resistance furnace 11 comprises a plurality of bricks or blocks 12 that are so disposed as to enclose a furnace chamber 13 of any suitable or desired contour and dimensions. The bricks or blocks 12 are made of a suitable ceramic refractory electric and heat-insulating material usually employed in the art.

A groove or slot 14 is provided in each of the walls of the furnace that are to have a resistor member associated therewith. A plurality of elongated and relatively narrow resistor-supporting members 15 are provided that have a rear portion of substantially rectangular contour in lateral section, that is adapted to fit into the slot or groove 14, in the lower portion thereof, and that have an integral portion 16 that extends into the furnace chamber and is adapted to support a resistor member 17 suspended therefrom. That portion of the members 15 adapted to be located in the slots 14 is provided on its upper surface with a laterallyextending groove 18 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth in detail.

Thewidth of the member 15 is made such that it will have the necessary strength and will at the same time permit of havingthe forward portion 16 support the depending resistor member 17, which comprises either a bar, ribbon or rod, of a suitable Serial No. 25,614.

resistor material such as nichrome, that is preformed to comprise a plurality of depending straight convolutions substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Means for holding the hanger blocks or supporting members 15 in the slot or groove H comprises a hollow tile member 19 that has an integral tongue portion 21 extending longitudinally thereof and in such posi tion as to interfit with. the groove 18 in a plurality of members 15.

I prefer to make the member 19 of such length, as to interlock with a plurality of the relatively narrow members 15 in order that a better structure of the interlocking hollow member 19 with the resistor-supporting members 15 may be obtained. Ifit is desired that the members 15 be spaced apart a predetermined distance, this may be effected by placing spacing members 22 therebetween, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. If it is desired to provide means for preventing the lower part of the adjacent convolutions of the resistor member from operatively engaging each other, I may provide a plurality of members 23, of rod or bar form, projecting from the wall of the furnace into the furnace chamber and between the adjacent depending convolutions.

I prefer to employ a non-vit-rifying cement 24 between the blocks or bricks 12 and the adjacent surfaces of the members 19, 15 and 22 in order that they may be easily and quickly removed from the wall whenever this becomes necessary, as by reason of the breakage of one of the portions 16 of the members 15.

When it is necessary to remove one or more of the members 15. this may be done by breaking the member 19 by a hammer or a bar and the 'non-vitrifying cement then permits of easily and quickly removing all parts of the broken tile 19 and of any of the members 15 operatively engaged thereby. It may be noted also, that it is necessary to assemble the members 15 and 22 and the cooperating holding tile member 19' in their proper operative positions relatively to each other before placing in the groove 14 and the group may then be placed in its proper operative position within the slot of one of the walls of the furnace.

Various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric furnace, the combination with a wall of refractory material and a refractory resistor-sup rting member'located in said wall and ha'vln a portion projecting into the furnace, sai resistor supporting member having a groove therein, of a locking means. interfitting with said groove, for holding said member in said wall.

2. In an electric furnace, the combination with a plurality of walls enclosing a furnace chamber, and a resistor-supporting member projecting from one of said walls, said resistor supporting member having a groove therein, of a refractory member, operatively engaging a portion of said wall and interlocked with the groove of said supporting member. for preventing longitudinal movement of said supporting member.

3. In an electric furnace, the combination with a plurality of walls enclosing a furnace chamber, and a removable resistor-supporting member located in said wall, of a locking means therefor, interlocked therewith, said supporting member and locking means being so constructed that they may be placed in proper operative position in said wall only when assembled relatively to each other.

t. In an electric furnace, the combination with a plurality of walls enclosing a furnace chamber, of a refractory resistor-supporting member having a portion thereof located in a wait, a locking means, interfitting therewith, located in a wall, and a non-vitrifiable cement between the engaging surfaces of the wall and of the supporting member and locking means,

5. In an electric furnace, the combination with a plurality of walls enclosing a furnace chamber, of a plurality of resistor-supporting members located in adjacent relation to each other and having one portion in one of said walls and another portion projecting into said chamber, the portion in the wall having a groove therein, and a single refractory member interlocked with a plurality of said supporting members and operatively engagin the groove of the portion thereof located 111 said wall.

6. In an electric furnace, the combination with a plurality of walls enclosing a furnace chamber, of a resistor-supporting member having a portion located in and supported by one of said walls, and a refractory member interlocked with said supporting member and breakable to permit of removal of said resistor-supporting member.

7. In an electric furnace, the combination with a plurality of refractory walls enclosing a furnace chamber, of a refractory resistor-supporting member having a portion thereof disposed in one of said walls, and a refractory member disposed in said wall for holding said resistor-supporting member in said wall, the two members having a tongue and groove connection for interlocking the same.

8. In an electric furnace, the combination with a refractory wall, of a refractory resistor-supportin member supported by said walls, and a hol ow member for holding said resistor-supporting member in said wall.

9.-In an electric furnace, the combination with a plurality of refractory walls enclosing a furnace chamber, of a refractory resistor-supporting member supported by one of said walls, and a hollow tile member for holding said resistor-supporting member in said wall, the two members having a tongue and groove connection for interlocking the same, said hollow tile member being breakable to permit of removal of said resistorsupporting member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20th day of April 1925.

ALVIN D. KEENE. 

